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Ban
on entry to Higher Education Dept irks people
By Khalid Khattak
LAHORE
CONTRARY to the Punjab government’s
tall claims that it was following an ‘open-door’ policy, the new
secretary of the Higher Education Department has banned the entry of
visitors to various sections of the department.
Visitors are not allowed to enter the
upper floor of the department which houses most of offices of senior
officials, including the additional secretary (establishment),
deputy secretaries (general, establishment, budget, universities and
boards etc).
Offices of many under secretaries and
section officers (SOs) are also situated there. A large number of
people belonging to various parts of the province visit these
offices on a daily basis for solution to their problems. They said
the fresh move had multiplied their problems.
During a visit to the department on
Monday, this correspondent observed many people complaining about
the new “policy”. Visitors were informed that the department was
computerising the record owing to which they could not be allowed to
enter. On the other hand, department employees were also seen
expressing displeasure over the new exercise as they had to clear
all cupboards containing hundreds of files.
Talking to The News, people
criticized the department high ups for banning their entry to the
department. They said the move had added to their miseries. A
visitor, Saleem, said the government had claimed to have adopted an
open-door policy while in reality people were suffering as usual
because of such practices. He said banning entry was like violating
rights of individuals who come from various parts of the province
for solution to their problems. He suggested instead of barring
people the department officials should chalk out some other plan so
that the visitors might not suffer as in most cases they come from
far flung areas.
Another visitor said he wanted to
meet SO (Boards) about an issue related to the Board of Intermediate
and Secondary Education (BISE) Lahore but was denied entry. An
employee seeking anonymity said most of the wings and sections were
understaffed owing to which the new exercise had created troubles.
Another commented that the new
secretary was working on an additional post - an arrangement that
was not meant to last for a long time. “It seems the boss
(secretary) wants to pass this period without getting into troubles
people bring with them on a daily basis,” he added.
When contacted, Secretary I&C (S&GAD)
Omer Rasool who has recently been given additional charge as the
higher education secretary said visitors were not allowed as the
department was computerizing the record. “Everything is topsy-turvy
in the department,” he claimed adding “Once things are in order,
this will help visitors”. “We are doing this for their benefit”, he
added. “Visitors should come to my office as I am here to serve
them,” the secretary said.
The News: Tuesday, June 09, 2009
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